Few comics could tell a tale like Nipsey Russell, as he does here in a classic clip from Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Born in Atlanta, Russell began performing at the age of six. He got his start as a comedian after World War II while working as a carhop at Atlanta’s legendary Varsity burger joint. He later became a staple on television and nightclub stages from the late 1950s on. He wowed audiences with his wordplay and references, delivered in his lyrical voice with impeccable timing.
A classic example of a Russell joke concerns a Black representative to the United Nations. The diplomat visits a restaurant in Maryland and is denied service. “But I’m the delegate from Ghana,” the diplomat says. “Well, you ain’t Ghana eat here,” the server replies. Generations of television viewers would come to know Russell through his frequent appearances on game shows. In 1964, he joined the short-livedbecoming the first Black performer to be a regular panelist on a game show. The program was originally hosted by Ed McMahon, who was then only a year into his gig as the sidekick onThe story goes that one night, McMahon asked Russell to say good night to the audience. Russell, ever the lyricist, came up with a poem on the spot.
Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic and researcher, who first contributed to Paste in 2022. He is an assistant editor at Cineaste, a GALECA member, and since 2019 has hostedJune 20, 2024 | 2:54pm
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